Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP CONT 09’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Chrysanthemum  plant cultivar is disclosed, characterized by small decorative type inflorescences, consistent flowering response to short days, blooming consistently after 49 days of short day length, dark red ray florets, free branching habit, and a consistent natural season flowering habit during the last week of September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Chrysanthemum morifolium.

Variety denomination ‘PPP CONT 09’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar ‘PPP CONT 09’ is a product of a cross between the male parent ‘GEDI ONE SAP’ (U.S. Plant Pa. No. 13,731) and the female parent ‘GEDI ONE CAR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,794). The new cultivar was discovered and selected by Dirk Pieters in October of 2008 in a greenhouse in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘PPP CONT 09’ by terminal cuttings was performed in Oostnieuwkerke, Belgium and Oxnard, Calif., and has shown that the unique features of this new cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PPP CONT 09’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PPP CONT 09.’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PPP CONT 09’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum cultivar:

-   -   1. Small, dark red, decorative-type inflorescences;     -   2. Consistent natural season flowering habit during the last         week of September;     -   3. Free branching habit; and     -   4. Consistent flowering response to short days, blooming         consistently after 49 days of short day length.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CONT 09’ are similar to plants of the male parent variety, ‘GEDI ONE SAP’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CONT 09’ are shorter but have a wider plant spread. Also, the new cultivar ‘PPP CONT 09’ has darker green foliage. Additionally, the inflorescences of ‘PPP CONT 09’ are smaller than the inflorescences of the male parent. Finally, the ray florets of ‘PPP CONT 09’ are dark red compared to the orange florets of the male parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CONT 09’ are similar to plants of the female parent variety, ‘GEDI ONE CAR’ in most horticultural characteristics, however plants of the new cultivar ‘PPP CONT 09’ are shorter but have a wider plant spread. Also, the female parent ‘GEDI ONE CAR’ has longer inflorescence longevity. Finally, the ray florets of ‘PPP CONT 09’ are a dark red compared to the dark purple florets of the female parent.

In comparison to the commercially available variety ‘GEDI ONE GAL’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,807), ‘PPP CONT 09’ is smaller in both height and plant spread. Additionally, the new variety ‘PPP CONT 09’ has a smaller inflorescence diameter and lighter red ray florets. Finally, the new variety has more inflorescences per lateral branch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in the drawing illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘PPP CONT 09’ grown in a 2 gallon container. One cutting was used in the pot, planted mid May and grown under outdoor field conditions. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘PPP CONT 09’ plants grown in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif., during the months of May through October 2006. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 15° C. at night to 12° C. to 20° C. during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘PPP CONT 09’. -   Commercial classification: Garden-type Chrysanthemum.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 7 to 14 days at approximately 21° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Mounding herbaceous perennial. -   Height: Approximately 20 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 29 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Free Branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 15 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: About 4.8 mm. -   Color of lateral branches: New yellow Green 147. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Approximately 28. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 138 days.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 5.1 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A.             Young foliage under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near Yellow-Green 147A. Mature foliage             under side: Near Yellow-Green 147B.         -   Venation.—Type: Palmately net. Venation color upper side:             Near Yellow-Green 147A. Venation color under side: Near             Yellow-Green 147A. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.         -   Color.—Near Green 138B.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.4 cm.

BLOOM

-   Inflorescence:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Induced by darkness period greater than             13.5 hours, approximately 49 days of appropriate day length             required to induce and develop blooms.         -   Inflorescence form—Decorative.         -   Natural flowering season.—Approximately the last week in             September.         -   Number of inflorescences per lateral branch.—Approximately             18.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—About 5 mm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Inflorescence longevity on plant.—Approximately 25 to 30             days.         -   Persistence.—Persistent. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Average number of ray florets per inflorescence.—152.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Aspect.—Flat.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Length.—Approximately 1.1 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface at first opening: Near Red 46A. Upper             surface at maturity: Near Red 46B. Upper surface at fading:             Near Red 46B. Under surface at first opening: Near Red 46A.             Under surface at maturity: Near Red 46B. Under surface at             fading: Near Red 46B. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Appearance.—Shiny.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Average number of florets per disc.—Approximately 3.         -   Shape.—Cylindric.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Average length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.1 cm.         -   Color.—At first opening: Near Yellow-Green 154C At maturity:             Near Yellow 9A. At fading: Near Yellow 9A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—At terminal end (shortest): Approximately 3 cm. At             lateral end (longest): Approximately 5.8 cm.         -   Angle to stem.—Acute.         -   Strength.—Moderate.         -   Color.—Near Green 138A.         -   Habit.—Upright.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Surface texture.—Lightly pubescent. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 cm.         -   Form.—Globular.         -   Color.—Near Red 46A. -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries):     -   -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Texture.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Number.—Approximately 22.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Length.—Approximately 0.4 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper side: Near Green 137A. Under side: Near Green             137C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Ray florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—2 branched.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1C.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Stamens.—Absent. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Number of pistils per floret.—1.         -   Stigma shape.—Cylindric.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Style color.—Near Green-Yellow 1D.         -   Number of stamens per floret.—Approximately 5.         -   Anther shape.—Tubular.         -   Anther color.—Near Yellow 9A.         -   Pollen color.—No pollen detected.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance/cold tolerance: Flowering plants are hardy to low     temperatures about −2° C. Non-flowering plants are hardy in the     approximate range of 3° C. to −6° C., depending upon duration of     cold and amount of moisture in the soil. With adequate water plants     are hardy to a high temperature of 45° C. -   Fruit/seed production: Commercially, this plant is not used or     observed in a stage where seeds would be produced. Therefore, seed     production has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘PPP CONT 09’ as herein illustrated and described. 